Autumn

Gordon Buchanan and the team return to Svalbard in September on the trail of Lyra and her cub Miki. They have been away for six weeks and don't know if either bear is still alive. Lyra's collar hasn't sent a signal for a month - finding her this time will be a huge challenge. But Gordon does find her - and Miki is alive.

Times are tough though. Lyra is very thin and has been reduced to eating moss and seaweed. Gordon discovers that Lyra has been eating plastic fishing floats to stave off her hunger. She is very thin and her milk is starting to run dry - she is refusing to let Miki suckle. Lyra is so desperate that for the first time she sees Gordon as a possible meal.